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srussell94's review
4.0
Good book!
As with the couple of other Loreth Anne White books I've read recently, this book was fast-paced and interesting until the end.
The ending could be guessed to an extent, I think, but there was certainly enough hints of doubt and confusion that it made for a good story and wasn't totally obvious.
I'm not sure how I feel about the writer-main-character or the "sometimes I hear my dead sister's voice speaking to me" thing, because I'm honestly not sure if they added to the story much... To me, they were more distracting than anything, and I feel like they slowed down the pace too much to account for any sort of benefits they may have had for the story.
Okay, so, right off the bat, I have to admit: I hated that Blake ended up being alive at the end. Not that I didn't want him to live--I felt terrible for his son having to live without him, etc, etc, but I hate the "twist" endings where the hero is miraculously alive, and I was dreading his surprise resurrection from the moment it was revealed that his body and the second boat were never found. To me, I'd rather he either live and survive with Meg and Noah from the get-go, or he dies and we end the story on a bittersweet note. That's probably more personal taste than anything else, but... Yeah.
I also was a little concerned with Blake's character--I didn't...really...like him? I know he cared about his son, and obvs he loved Meg, but he seemed very..........rough. Like....aggressive. Even the sex scenes seemed borderline-violent! Maybe that's also just me, but stuff like that always makes me a bit nervous about a character, and it's hard for me to believe that this guy is supposed to be the "hero" when he's slamming his mouth down onto Meg's/shoving her back into the wall as he gropes her/etc. I get the whole "I want to convey their passion for each other" deal, but I winced a few times at the descriptions of his roughness.
Speaking of love... I totally kind of rolled my eyes a few times at the whole "first love never leaves you" theme that ran through the book. Like... I had a boyfriend when I was 13, too, and we loved each other and dated for a whole year, but...if we met again tomorrow I wouldn't be Rachel-and-Ross-cheating on my ex(??)-fiancé with him. I know, suspension of disbelief and destiny and whatnot.... but still. So many of these characters were consumed by their "first love" or whatnot. Just seemed weird, to me (especially Geoff, who was getting ready to marry another man, and then apparently just threw that all away? Why didn't he want to stay alive for his fiancé?)
In terms of the "mystery" aspect, I did actually guess that it was Tommy who killed her--I mean, he's the obvious suspect, and he seemed too nice to Meg from the start, if you know what I mean. Also, when a guy owns half the town, you've gotta be suspicious, right? But I will admit that I wasn't sure how his actions that day meshed with Henry and Geoff (who, by the way, my brain insisted on calling GE-off the whole time despite my constant, conscious reminders that it's pronounced JEFF...sigh). I didn't know exactly how the pieces fit, but I figured it had to be something between Henry/GEoff/Tommy and possibly including Tommy's friends.
The reveal made sense to me, I didn't need much more of a motive for any of the antagonists, and I did feel horrified about Sherry's death once what truly happened was revealed. Again, it was fast paced and a good read, and I'll definitely read more of Loreth Anne White's books.
As with the couple of other Loreth Anne White books I've read recently, this book was fast-paced and interesting until the end.
The ending could be guessed to an extent, I think, but there was certainly enough hints of doubt and confusion that it made for a good story and wasn't totally obvious.
I'm not sure how I feel about the writer-main-character or the "sometimes I hear my dead sister's voice speaking to me" thing, because I'm honestly not sure if they added to the story much... To me, they were more distracting than anything, and I feel like they slowed down the pace too much to account for any sort of benefits they may have had for the story.
Spoiler
Okay, so, right off the bat, I have to admit: I hated that Blake ended up being alive at the end. Not that I didn't want him to live--I felt terrible for his son having to live without him, etc, etc, but I hate the "twist" endings where the hero is miraculously alive, and I was dreading his surprise resurrection from the moment it was revealed that his body and the second boat were never found. To me, I'd rather he either live and survive with Meg and Noah from the get-go, or he dies and we end the story on a bittersweet note. That's probably more personal taste than anything else, but... Yeah.
I also was a little concerned with Blake's character--I didn't...really...like him? I know he cared about his son, and obvs he loved Meg, but he seemed very..........rough. Like....aggressive. Even the sex scenes seemed borderline-violent! Maybe that's also just me, but stuff like that always makes me a bit nervous about a character, and it's hard for me to believe that this guy is supposed to be the "hero" when he's slamming his mouth down onto Meg's/shoving her back into the wall as he gropes her/etc. I get the whole "I want to convey their passion for each other" deal, but I winced a few times at the descriptions of his roughness.
Speaking of love... I totally kind of rolled my eyes a few times at the whole "first love never leaves you" theme that ran through the book. Like... I had a boyfriend when I was 13, too, and we loved each other and dated for a whole year, but...if we met again tomorrow I wouldn't be Rachel-and-Ross-cheating on my ex(??)-fiancé with him. I know, suspension of disbelief and destiny and whatnot.... but still. So many of these characters were consumed by their "first love" or whatnot. Just seemed weird, to me (especially Geoff, who was getting ready to marry another man, and then apparently just threw that all away? Why didn't he want to stay alive for his fiancé?)
In terms of the "mystery" aspect, I did actually guess that it was Tommy who killed her--I mean, he's the obvious suspect, and he seemed too nice to Meg from the start, if you know what I mean. Also, when a guy owns half the town, you've gotta be suspicious, right? But I will admit that I wasn't sure how his actions that day meshed with Henry and Geoff (who, by the way, my brain insisted on calling GE-off the whole time despite my constant, conscious reminders that it's pronounced JEFF...sigh). I didn't know exactly how the pieces fit, but I figured it had to be something between Henry/GEoff/Tommy and possibly including Tommy's friends.
The reveal made sense to me, I didn't need much more of a motive for any of the antagonists, and I did feel horrified about Sherry's death once what truly happened was revealed. Again, it was fast paced and a good read, and I'll definitely read more of Loreth Anne White's books.
nikkisuehaight's review
5.0
I really am in love with Loreth Ann White books. Every single one of them is gripping from start to finish
cindywilk's review
3.0
3.5 stars
This isn’t bad by any means, I just didn’t connect with it like I did her Angie Pallorino series.
This isn’t bad by any means, I just didn’t connect with it like I did her Angie Pallorino series.
owlsreads's review against another edition
4.0
4 stars!
*
In the Waning Light was such!! an entertaining read to me. I loved how White made use of the book within a book narrative element and how it all came together to tell a really tense story. Meg's perspective was so easy to read and get lost into, though some of the shifting POV to other characters were a bit abrupt at times.
The plot development was so well done. I did guess what happened, but that in no way made me dislike the story any less. It was pretty exciting to read about the way everything came together, since I personally love mystery plots that have a connection to the main character, and how new pieces of evidence came to light. There were a few twists regarding it that did shock me quite a bit as well!
The second half was filled with so so so much tension that I ended up not putting the book down until I finished it. I didn't expect for things to be solved the way they did and the added bit of suspense White added to the story. I did enjoy the hopeful ending, though, and how Meg changed so much from the person she was in the first chapter.
And a little mention of the romance: it was pretty sweet and served as a good point of conflict between characters and as a balance to the mystery. It was a bit angsty, but I did like how it progressed and how everything turned out okay in the end.
*
Series: Standalone.
POV: Told mostly from Meg and Blake's POVs.
Content Warnings:
Cliffhanger: No.
HEA:
*
"Don't be stupid, Meggie."
In the Waning Light was such!! an entertaining read to me. I loved how White made use of the book within a book narrative element and how it all came together to tell a really tense story. Meg's perspective was so easy to read and get lost into, though some of the shifting POV to other characters were a bit abrupt at times.
The plot development was so well done. I did guess what happened, but that in no way made me dislike the story any less. It was pretty exciting to read about the way everything came together, since I personally love mystery plots that have a connection to the main character, and how new pieces of evidence came to light. There were a few twists regarding it that did shock me quite a bit as well!
The second half was filled with so so so much tension that I ended up not putting the book down until I finished it. I didn't expect for things to be solved the way they did and the added bit of suspense White added to the story. I did enjoy the hopeful ending, though, and how Meg changed so much from the person she was in the first chapter.
And a little mention of the romance: it was pretty sweet and served as a good point of conflict between characters and as a balance to the mystery. It was a bit angsty, but I did like how it progressed and how everything turned out okay in the end.
*
Series: Standalone.
POV: Told mostly from Meg and Blake's POVs.
Content Warnings:
Spoiler
Rape. Homophobia. Suicide. Mentions of child porn and child abuse.Cliffhanger: No.
HEA:
Spoiler
I'd say hopeful, for some!bec_sherman's review against another edition
4.0
I listened to the audiobook to and from work so it took a long time, given I had time off over Christmas. I enjoyed the story, a little bit of suspense with some romance thrown in.
dpd's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
rfwads's review
4.0
4.5 stars rounding down!
This is the first book I've read by Loreth Anne White and it did not disappoint. I honestly could not get enough of In the Waning Light and would love to read more about Meg and Blake! A mystery, crime, and thriller all in one, In the Waning Light was suspenseful and kept me guessing. I will admit that I did figure out early on who the killer was, but what went down with Meg's sister, Sherry, and the reason she was killed, was INTENSE and I did NOT see that coming. I also became attached to the main characters and was rooting for Meg to find answers, but also to find herself. I definitely would recommend this book to others, you won't be disappointed.
****
Meg Brogan is a famous true-crime writer, who has written many stories but her own. After an interview goes south and her fiancé calls it quits, she decides to prove everyone wrong and heads back home to Shelter Bay, after twenty-two years, to write the story of her sister Sherry's death. Most of the town is not happy that Meg is back and digging into the past. Everyone seems to have secrets about what happened the night of Sherry's death, including Meg's first love Blake. Putting her own life at risk, Meg will stop at nothing until the truth is out. As she digs deeper into the secrets of the past, she soon realizes things aren't what they seemed and no one is to be trusted. Will she find out the truth before it's too late?
This is the first book I've read by Loreth Anne White and it did not disappoint. I honestly could not get enough of In the Waning Light and would love to read more about Meg and Blake! A mystery, crime, and thriller all in one, In the Waning Light was suspenseful and kept me guessing. I will admit that I did figure out early on who the killer was, but what went down with Meg's sister, Sherry, and the reason she was killed, was INTENSE and I did NOT see that coming. I also became attached to the main characters and was rooting for Meg to find answers, but also to find herself. I definitely would recommend this book to others, you won't be disappointed.
****
Meg Brogan is a famous true-crime writer, who has written many stories but her own. After an interview goes south and her fiancé calls it quits, she decides to prove everyone wrong and heads back home to Shelter Bay, after twenty-two years, to write the story of her sister Sherry's death. Most of the town is not happy that Meg is back and digging into the past. Everyone seems to have secrets about what happened the night of Sherry's death, including Meg's first love Blake. Putting her own life at risk, Meg will stop at nothing until the truth is out. As she digs deeper into the secrets of the past, she soon realizes things aren't what they seemed and no one is to be trusted. Will she find out the truth before it's too late?
simplyy's review against another edition
3.0
I just finished this book. It's 12:45 am and I'm way too emotional to be writing this but I'm going to do it anyway.
For me, this started out very slow. But I knew it had the potential to pick up so I stuck with it. I think a lot of it was sort of predictable. And I think there could've been more of a focus on Meg and Blake's relationship pre-Sherry. And like I said before - I think this takes place in the US but the people used terms like "on holiday" and other kinds of colloquialisms that we don't normally use here.
The ending threw me for a HUGE loop. Like I said. Way too emotional right now. 3 stars.
For me, this started out very slow. But I knew it had the potential to pick up so I stuck with it. I think a lot of it was sort of predictable. And I think there could've been more of a focus on Meg and Blake's relationship pre-Sherry. And like I said before - I think this takes place in the US but the people used terms like "on holiday" and other kinds of colloquialisms that we don't normally use here.
The ending threw me for a HUGE loop. Like I said. Way too emotional right now. 3 stars.
doris1310's review against another edition
5.0
First impression
Buuuh, das Ende hat mich noch mal wirklich vor Anspannung zittern lassen...
review on to catch a falling book
Nachdem Meg Brogan von ihrem Verlobten ein Ultimatum gestellt worden war, kehrt die True Crime-Autorin in ihre Heimatstadt an der Küste Washingtons zurück, um ein für alle Mal mit ihrer Vergangenheit abzuschließen. Vor 16 Jahren wurde ihre Schwester Sherry ermordet, Meg wurde selbst schwer verletzt; ihre schrecklichen Erinnerungen seitdem unterdrückt. Ihr Vater verübte daraufhin Selbstjustiz, während ihre Mutter diesen Schicksalsschlag nicht verkraften konnte und Selbstmord beging. Zurück in Shelter Bay wird ihr Plan, den alten Fall wiederaufzurollen und ein Buch darüber zu schreiben, nicht gerade erfreut aufgenommen. Während sich einige Bewohner in ihrer Existenz bedroht fühlen, kämpfte Blake Shelton mit gemischten Gefühlen. Ihn hatte Megs Weggang schwer getroffen und dass sie jetzt wieder da ist, macht es nicht unbedingt leichter. Denn auch er hat ein Geheimnis, das jenen schicksalshaften Tag betrifft.
Megan „Meg“ Brogan ist eine erfolgreiche True Crime-Autorin, die bisher stets der Kardinalregel ihres Mentors gefolgt ist: „You had to know the ending.“ Doch jetzt stellt sie gezwungenermaßen ihren eigenen Dämonen und möchte mit ihrer Vergangenheit abschließen. Die Frage ist nur, war der Tatverdächtige damals auch wirklich der Mörder ihrer Schwester? Meg hat Bindungsängste: daher hält sie ihren Verlobten auf Abstand und schreibt in einem Wohnwagen, da sie nicht an ein Büro gebunden sein will. Sie ist eine starke Persönlichkeit, die auch vor unangenehmen, problematischen Situationen zurückschreckt. Sie liebte ihre Familie, auch wenn sie ihnen Vorwürfe für ihre Handlungen macht. Sich selbst gibt sie allerdings auch Schuld, denn sie könnte die wichtigste Zeugin im Mordfall ihrer älteren Schwester sein, wenn sie sich doch nur an jene schreckliche Nacht erinnern könnte. Mit dem Buch, das das wichtigste ihrer Karriere werden könnte, möchte sie nun ein für alle Mal Frieden und eine Zukunft mit ihrem Verlobten finden. Mir ist Meg mit ihrer sturen und gleichzeitig verletzlichen Art von der ersten Seite an ans Herz gewachsen.
Dasselbe kann ich von Blake Sutton sagen. Megs Weggang hat ihn damals sehr verletzt, da er sich als Teenager eine gemeinsame Zukunft mit ihr ausgemalt hat. Doch alles kam anders und so ging er erst als Militärarzt zum Militär, ehe er nach Shelter Bay zurückkehrte, um den Familienbetrieb zu übernehmen und sich um seinen Sohn zu kümmern. Megs Rückkehr weckt alte Gefühle in ihm, die er um seines Sohnes Willen zu unterdrücken versucht. Blake ist ein zurückhaltender, starker Mann, der für die, die er liebt, alles tut.
Doch nicht nur Meg, sondern auch Blakes älterer Bruder Geoff kommt nun nachhause zurück. Einerseits um den Bruder zu seiner Hochzeit einzuladen, andererseits da auch er eine Rolle in dem alten Kriminalfall spielt. Er ist allerdings nicht der einzige; einige andere Bewohner haben schmutzige Geheimnisse, die nicht gelüftet werden sollten.
Insgesamt gibt es ganze acht (!) verschiedene Erzählperspektiven, die allesamt sehr gut geschrieben sind und die Suche nach dem Mörder noch schwieriger machen. Fast alle wirken verdächtig, fast alle haben mehr oder weniger offensichtliche Beweggründe.
Auch das zweite Buch, das ich von Loreth Anne White gelesen habe, hat mich vollkommen überzeugt. Neben der Frage, wer Sherry Brogan ermordet hat, die ich bis zum Schluss nicht sicher beantworten konnte, wird darin auch der Fluch in einer Kleinstadt zu leben, aufgegriffen. Anders zu sein bzw. Geheimnisse zu bewahren, ist dort noch schwieriger als anderswo. Sowohl die Charakterentwicklung als auch das Setting ist toll und die Atmosphäre fesselnd. Vor allem gegen Ende hin konnte ich nur schwer ruhig sitzen.
Kleinstadtgeheimnisse, eine unerwartete Enthüllung, zweite Chancen und Loreth Anne Whites bemerkenswerter Schreibstil machen „In the Waning Light“ zu einer perfekten Romantic Thrill-Lektüre. Empfehlenswert!!
Buuuh, das Ende hat mich noch mal wirklich vor Anspannung zittern lassen...
review on to catch a falling book
Nachdem Meg Brogan von ihrem Verlobten ein Ultimatum gestellt worden war, kehrt die True Crime-Autorin in ihre Heimatstadt an der Küste Washingtons zurück, um ein für alle Mal mit ihrer Vergangenheit abzuschließen. Vor 16 Jahren wurde ihre Schwester Sherry ermordet, Meg wurde selbst schwer verletzt; ihre schrecklichen Erinnerungen seitdem unterdrückt. Ihr Vater verübte daraufhin Selbstjustiz, während ihre Mutter diesen Schicksalsschlag nicht verkraften konnte und Selbstmord beging. Zurück in Shelter Bay wird ihr Plan, den alten Fall wiederaufzurollen und ein Buch darüber zu schreiben, nicht gerade erfreut aufgenommen. Während sich einige Bewohner in ihrer Existenz bedroht fühlen, kämpfte Blake Shelton mit gemischten Gefühlen. Ihn hatte Megs Weggang schwer getroffen und dass sie jetzt wieder da ist, macht es nicht unbedingt leichter. Denn auch er hat ein Geheimnis, das jenen schicksalshaften Tag betrifft.
Megan „Meg“ Brogan ist eine erfolgreiche True Crime-Autorin, die bisher stets der Kardinalregel ihres Mentors gefolgt ist: „You had to know the ending.“ Doch jetzt stellt sie gezwungenermaßen ihren eigenen Dämonen und möchte mit ihrer Vergangenheit abschließen. Die Frage ist nur, war der Tatverdächtige damals auch wirklich der Mörder ihrer Schwester? Meg hat Bindungsängste: daher hält sie ihren Verlobten auf Abstand und schreibt in einem Wohnwagen, da sie nicht an ein Büro gebunden sein will. Sie ist eine starke Persönlichkeit, die auch vor unangenehmen, problematischen Situationen zurückschreckt. Sie liebte ihre Familie, auch wenn sie ihnen Vorwürfe für ihre Handlungen macht. Sich selbst gibt sie allerdings auch Schuld, denn sie könnte die wichtigste Zeugin im Mordfall ihrer älteren Schwester sein, wenn sie sich doch nur an jene schreckliche Nacht erinnern könnte. Mit dem Buch, das das wichtigste ihrer Karriere werden könnte, möchte sie nun ein für alle Mal Frieden und eine Zukunft mit ihrem Verlobten finden. Mir ist Meg mit ihrer sturen und gleichzeitig verletzlichen Art von der ersten Seite an ans Herz gewachsen.
Dasselbe kann ich von Blake Sutton sagen. Megs Weggang hat ihn damals sehr verletzt, da er sich als Teenager eine gemeinsame Zukunft mit ihr ausgemalt hat. Doch alles kam anders und so ging er erst als Militärarzt zum Militär, ehe er nach Shelter Bay zurückkehrte, um den Familienbetrieb zu übernehmen und sich um seinen Sohn zu kümmern. Megs Rückkehr weckt alte Gefühle in ihm, die er um seines Sohnes Willen zu unterdrücken versucht. Blake ist ein zurückhaltender, starker Mann, der für die, die er liebt, alles tut.
Doch nicht nur Meg, sondern auch Blakes älterer Bruder Geoff kommt nun nachhause zurück. Einerseits um den Bruder zu seiner Hochzeit einzuladen, andererseits da auch er eine Rolle in dem alten Kriminalfall spielt. Er ist allerdings nicht der einzige; einige andere Bewohner haben schmutzige Geheimnisse, die nicht gelüftet werden sollten.
Insgesamt gibt es ganze acht (!) verschiedene Erzählperspektiven, die allesamt sehr gut geschrieben sind und die Suche nach dem Mörder noch schwieriger machen. Fast alle wirken verdächtig, fast alle haben mehr oder weniger offensichtliche Beweggründe.
Auch das zweite Buch, das ich von Loreth Anne White gelesen habe, hat mich vollkommen überzeugt. Neben der Frage, wer Sherry Brogan ermordet hat, die ich bis zum Schluss nicht sicher beantworten konnte, wird darin auch der Fluch in einer Kleinstadt zu leben, aufgegriffen. Anders zu sein bzw. Geheimnisse zu bewahren, ist dort noch schwieriger als anderswo. Sowohl die Charakterentwicklung als auch das Setting ist toll und die Atmosphäre fesselnd. Vor allem gegen Ende hin konnte ich nur schwer ruhig sitzen.
Kleinstadtgeheimnisse, eine unerwartete Enthüllung, zweite Chancen und Loreth Anne Whites bemerkenswerter Schreibstil machen „In the Waning Light“ zu einer perfekten Romantic Thrill-Lektüre. Empfehlenswert!!
aperfectmjk's review against another edition
5.0
Another great book by Loreth Anne White
Unlike her other book 'A Dark Lure' I found that the character development did not distract from the plot. This time around you learn about the characters as the plot begins to thicken. This was a pleasant surprise as I had my doubts when starting this book. Meg, is portrayed as somewhat of an enigma. Her life in Seattle is turned upside down when the demons from her past won't allow her to commit to the future. In desperation she flees back to Shelter Bay to rid these demons once and for all so that she can finally live the life she was meant to have... or so she thought. Once back in Shelter Bay she sets out to uncover the truth about her sister's murder and what really took place on the spit that night. Along the way Meg begins to realize that she's not the person she thought she was, that the real Meg had been left back in Shelter Bay along. Not only does she uncover truths within herself, she finds out just what truths had been buried the day she left Shelter Bay behind.
Unlike her other book 'A Dark Lure' I found that the character development did not distract from the plot. This time around you learn about the characters as the plot begins to thicken. This was a pleasant surprise as I had my doubts when starting this book. Meg, is portrayed as somewhat of an enigma. Her life in Seattle is turned upside down when the demons from her past won't allow her to commit to the future. In desperation she flees back to Shelter Bay to rid these demons once and for all so that she can finally live the life she was meant to have... or so she thought. Once back in Shelter Bay she sets out to uncover the truth about her sister's murder and what really took place on the spit that night. Along the way Meg begins to realize that she's not the person she thought she was, that the real Meg had been left back in Shelter Bay along. Not only does she uncover truths within herself, she finds out just what truths had been buried the day she left Shelter Bay behind.